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Turn down for what? For headstands, of course! They're so much more than just an awesome party trick. Inversions have severalbenefits that may enhance your overall well-being, bringing greater strength, awareness, and calmness to your body and mind.
By stimulating blood and oxygen flow to your upper body and brain, inversions give your heart a bit of a break and relieve pressure on your lower back and legs. They encourage you to breathe deeper, helping your lung tissue to work more effectively and efficiently. Because headstands require a great deal of focus and balance, regular practice can improve your concentration, memory, and awareness. Whenever you're feeling stressed or anxious, being upside down can even turn your frown upside down by stimulating the release of endorphins into the blood stream.

Headstands are tricky - there's no way around it. If you've ever wondered how to do a headstand, Chriss from @livingmovingbeing shared her best tips.

How to do a headstand

Things to bear in mind

https://instagram.com/p/7s3HsEqlCh/?taken-by=pumpupapp

The video included above is sped up. This is not my first time doing a headstand - I used to have a pillow beneath my head, or a wall behind me. I have fallen over multiple times.

You will need core strength and back strength before you will be able to do a headstand successfully.

If you think you're ready to try, then here's what you do:

The steps

Clasp your fingers into a cradle and kneel on the ground. Leave your pinky fingers on top of each other so that they don't crush and squeeze when you perform the inversion.

Bend forward and place your head on the floor between your arms. The top back section of your head should be securely anchored by your clasped hands.

Walk your feet forward, using your tippy toes to bring your lower body closer to your head. Your bottom should be stacked on top of your thighs as much as possible.

Engage your core and start to lift your feet off of the ground. This is where you find your point of counterbalance. You'll really need to control your core and have FAITH. Take it slow and find the sweet spot where you can lift your feet without overarching or over balancing. Be prepared to lose your balance a few times before you get to know what this feels like.
Tip: Have a pillow or cushion ready behind you and plenty of space so that you don't knock things over.

Slowly lift your legs. Once your feet are off the floor and you're in a crouched egg shape upside down, slowly lift your legs and simultaneously straighten them, working hard with your core to maintain your balance as you shift the weight above you. I imagine stacking my body parts on top of each other in a straight line to find this balance.

There are safe ways to fall. Falling is an a essential part of learning to do anything awesome.

Did this guide help you learn how to do a headstand? Let us know how long you can hold yours in the comments below!